Seminars:
October 1st 2013
Learning In Query Optimization

Learning In Query Optimization

by prof. Volker Mark, Technische Universität Berlin

October 1st 2013 @ 15:30, in Serraia

In this invited talk prof. Volker Mark will present his work about

Learning In Query Optimization

Abstract:

Database Systems let users specify queries in a declarative language like SQL. Most modern DBMS optimizers rely upon a cost model to choose the best query execution plan (QEP) for any given query. Cost estimates are heavily dependent upon the optimizer's estimates for the number of rows that will result at each step of the QEP for complex queries involving many predicates and/or operations. These estimates, in turn, rely upon statistics on the database and modeling assumptions that may or may not be true for a given database. In my talk, I will present an overview of the research on learning in query optimization. I will introduce the concept of a LEarning Optimizer (LEO) as a comprehensive way to repair incorrect statistics and cardinality estimates of a query execution plan. By monitoring executed queries, LEO compares the optimizer's estimates with actuals at each step in a QEP, and computes adjustments to cost estimates and statistics that may be used during the current and future query optimizations. LEO introduces a feedback loop to query optimization that enhances the available information on the database where the most queries have occurred, allowing the optimizer to actually learn from its past mistakes. In the second part of the talk, I describe how the knowledge gleaned by LEO is exploited consistently in a query optimizer, by adjusting the optimizer's model and by maximzing information entropy.

Speaker:

Volker Markl is a Full Professor and Chair of the Database Systems and Information Management (DIMA) group at the Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin). Volker also holds a position as an adjunct full professor at the University of Toronto.